Ryan Seacrest made his very last Live with Kelly and Ryan on-air appearance as a co-host on April 14th after six years on the show. The media personality, 48, and Kelly Ripa, 52, both got emotional during the special moment, as the duo said a misty goodbye to the beloved hosting dynamic they shared.
Speaking to a teary-eyed Seacrest, Ripa sweetly said, “I just want to say a few words to you. It’s on behalf of myself and all of us — but mostly me. This has, without question, been the fastest six years of my life.”
She continued, “And although you and I have been friends for decades and decades, I feel like I’ve gained through this process a younger brother/ oldest son.” I am so grateful that our success together on this show has led to us developing an even closer — yet codependent — relationship.”
Ryan Seacrest & Kelly Ripa Bid Adieu To Co-Hosting ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’ Together
The Emmy winner got choked up as she compared her American Idol host friend to a “blooming onion.” She continued, “You are layers upon layers of goodness, of kind, of charm, of brilliance, of authenticity and generosity. Your generosity is unmatched.”
Seacrest responded with touching words of his own as his parents and girlfriend Aubrey Paige watched in the live audience. “I’m a very lucky man, Kelly. I want you all to know, it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am. Fortunate to have had this seat next to you, Kel, for six years. You’re incompatible. There’s no one like you,” he said. (We’re not crying, you’re crying!)
He added, "I’ve spent my entire career talking … but today, it’s hard to put into words how deeply I’ve appreciated being here and being with you, being invited into your homes every day to try to deliver a smile or a laugh or two. I’m honored to be a part of this family."
Seacrest then thanked the entire show staff, turned to Ripa, grabbed her hands and said, "I so appreciate your leadership, your love, your wisdom and I really do feel like a family member and we will have that forever." He then joined her for a final toast and a "passing of the mug" with new cohost (and Ripa's husband) Mark Consuelos.
Seacrest surprised fans back in February when he announced his exit from the talk show. "Kelly and I have some news here. This is something that she and I have been talking about for a long time and it was a tough, tough decision," he shared with viewers at the time. "Last year, we spoke and I made the decision to make this my last season as cohost with Kelly here on Live With Kelly and Ryan, which is bittersweet."
Ahead of Seacrest's announcement, Ripa opened up about future plans for the show. "We are so aware of the importance of continuity and consistency and, like, the familial vibe that we all have here," she explained.
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Future Plans For The Talk Show And Re-Branding With Mark Consuelos
The former soap actress continued, "It only makes sense to not just our viewing audience at home, but our audience here within our staff, our support system, our extended family, to bring in somebody that we know and love and who’s really always been here."
"The only person I can think of that is capable of, you know, holding your torch the way you have held it. And that would be, my husband, Consuelos, in what Ryan and I are calling the nation’s weirdest social experiment."
Seacrest will continue to host American Idol and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest, as well as his KIIS-FM show, On Air With Ryan Seacrest. Following Seacrest's departure, ABC will rebrand the show as Live With Kelly and Mark.
Consuelos’ first episode as the new cohost alongside his wife will air on Monday, April 17th. The two, as fans know, have worked together professionally before on All My Children, Hope and Faith and Riverdale. They share kids Michael, 25, Lola, 21, and Joaquin, 19, and have been married since 1996.
